Stories from Monday, July 27, 2015

From Staff Reports The Butler County Fair will be Sept. 16-19 in downtown Poplar Bluff at the Ray Clinton Park and the Black River Coliseum. "Circle your calendar now" and make plans not only to attend, but participate in activities, said Phyllis Flanigan, program director for the Butler County University of Missouri Extension...

By ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service A more than $50 million project in Southern Missouri's Shannon County is turning a former backwoods hippie music venue into a new state park, and a Perryville, Missouri, construction company is on board for the bulk of the work...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer MALDEN, Mo. -- The sound of horns and trumpets warming up drifted down the hallway of Malden High School early this week as a Navy optometrist welcomed his 34th patient of the day. Set up in front of a teacher's desk and whiteboard, Capt. Philbrook Mason asked a few questions of 53-year-old Kennett, Mo., resident Roy Cooper before beginning an eye exam...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer As church attendance among U.S. families is at its lowest since the early 1960s, one local pastor discusses some of the reasons why and what needs to happen for those figures to change. Central Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff will honor Pastor Corey Ruffin at 3 p.m. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Doniphan man pleaded guilty Friday to illegally possessing handguns stolen from Dennis Outdoors. Michael Lee Cravens Jr., 24, pleaded guilty as charged to the felony of being a felon in possession of firearms, according to the plea agreement filed with the U.S. District Court, Eastern District...

The Missouri Bluebird Society presented the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Inc. a Bluebird Conservation Award July 10 at the Bluebird Banquet at The Watershed Center in Springfield. Missouri Bluebird Society President Steve Garr presented the award to Federated Garden Clubs President Nancy Bahn. The banquet's program and power point presentation was titled "Missouri's Bluebird Heritage."...

By ELEANOR C. HASENBECK Staff Writer There's a new guy in town -- if you're into cardio that is. In June, Kyler Sowell became a certified Zumba instructor, making him the first male certified instructor in Poplar Bluff. Since becoming certified, Sowell has taught three weeks of the Latin dance fitness class at the Black River Coliseum...

Dallas Barks Dallas Wayne Barks, 78, of Spencer, Okla., went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, July 21, 2015. He was born March 10th, 1937 in Shook, Mo. to Charlie O. Barks and Dicy N. (Gilbreath) Barks. He joined the USAF at the age of 16 and served his country in Korea. ...

David and Olive Whittom of Poplar Bluff, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Friday, July 31. The couple was married in Kearney, Neb., in 1955. They have lived in Southeast Missouri since 1974. They have three children: Dale, of Alexander, Kans., Norman, of Grandin, and Senya Dobb of Poplar Bluff; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. They are members of the Agee Fellowship Church and he belongs to Masonic Lodge 209...

Junior McKeel Junior McKeel, 90, of Doniphan, Mo., died Thursday, July 23, 2015, at Southeast Health Center of Ripley County. Mr. McKeel was born Nov. 26, 1924 in Parma, Mo. He attended Westpoint Pentecostal Church in Doniphan and was a masonry contractor, having worked in Poplar Bluff as well as California, Texas and Louisiana. Mr. McKeel enjoyed working, collecting things, fishing and gardening...

Dustin I. O. Greer BLOOMFIELD -- Dustin I. O. Greer, 27, of Bloomfield, died Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation was Saturday at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Sunday at the...

Mary Lou Boozer CAMPBELL -- Mary Lou Boozer, 80, of Malden, died Thursday, July 23, 2015, at her residence. Visitation will be from noon - 3 p.m., Monday, at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. The funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. Monday at Landess Funeral Chapel with Bro. Jared Hancock officiating...

Perry Warncke PIEDMONT -- Perry Warncke, 71, of Annapolis, died Thursday, July 23, 2105, at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation will be at 5 p.m. Sunday at the First Nazarene Church in Annapolis. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the church with Pastor Howard Casteel officiating...

Ulylla Fern Long MALDEN -- Ulylla Fern Long, 84, of Gideon, died Friday, July 24, 2015, at Gideon Care Center in Gideon. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. Sunday at the Landess Chapel in Malden. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Landess Chapel in Malden with Rev. Don Wells. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton...

Vera Ann Abernathy MALDEN -- Vera Ann Abernathy, 58, of Malden, died Friday, July 24, 2015, at her residence. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. until service Monday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Bradshaw Chapel. Burial in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton...

Strike Zone coach Casey Beis couldn't have asked for a better finish from his team in the Poplar Bluff Park Department Civic League Tournament. After struggling to hit for a majority of the season, Strike Zone scored 25 runs against Southern Land Title in a semifinal, then continued their offensive onslaught with 10 runs in the first two innings to come away with a 27-7 run-rule victory in five innings over Dille & Traxel in the championship game Friday night at McLane Park...

Maverick Glass went to bed Thursday night with its undefeated season in jeopardy. Weather postponed the Park Department Little League championship midway through the game. After 3 1/2 innings, the MJM Crushers were winning 2-0. When play resumed Friday night, MJM twice had Maverick Glass down to its final strike...

LYONS, Kan. -- Wayne County coach Jeff Null joked with his players about their knack for making games "interesting and stressful" in late innings after the Lumberjacks won the state tournament and prepared for their trip to the Senior Babe Ruth Midwest Regional...

Howard Pigg Howard Dean Pigg, 47, of Williamsville died Thursday, July 23, 2015, at his residence. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at the Ruegg Funeral Home in Williamsville. The funeral will follow at 4:30 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Burial will be in the Cool Springs Cemetery near Williamsville...